For the third-straight season, ACC foes Virginia and Miami met at Hard Rock Stadium. This one, unlike the games in 2019 and ’20, went the Cavaliers’ way.
In a nationally televised Coastal Division game, UVA pulled out a 30-28 victory Thursday night when Miami’s Andres Borregales missed a 33-yard field-goal attempt as time expired. His kick hit the left upright and bounced away, triggering a frenzied celebration by the Wahoos.
Virginia (3-2 overall, 1-2 ACC) never trailed Thursday night. The Cavaliers led 16-7 at halftime and 27-14 late in the third quarter. But the Hurricanes’ offense, stymied by Hoos in the first half, heated up after intermission.
After Brendan Farrell’s second field goal, this one a 30-yarder, pushed UVA’s lead to 30-21 early in the fourth quarter, the Canes drove 75 yards for a touchdown that made it a two-point game.
The Cavaliers’ next drive stalled, but Jacob Finn’s punt pinned Miami back at its 9-yard line with 5:36 left. That didn’t faze the Canes (2-3, 0-1), who methodically advanced up the field before calling a timeout with 2 seconds left to set up what appeared to be a chip shot for Borregales.
For UVA, quarterback Brennan Armstrong completed 25 of 44 passes for 268 yards and one TD. He was intercepted once, a turnover that Miami quickly turned into a touchdown.
Running backs Wayne Taulapapa and Mike Hollins each ran for a TD, and Virginia’s most versatile player, Keytaon Thompson, had a sensational night. Thompson rushed three times for 47 yards and caught four passes for 55 yards.
Wide receiver Billy Kemp caught nine passes for 81 yards. Another UVA wideout, Dontayvion Wicks, had only two receptions, but one is sure to be showcased on SportsCenter.
In third quarter, on second-and-17 from the Miami 37, Armstrong threw a long pass to the end zone that was nearly intercepted. As the defensive back came down with the ball, however, it came loose and landed on Wicks’ back. As Wicks rolled over, the ball popped up, and he grabbed it for an unforgettable touchdown.